Ivoryana Neal earned her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and is passionate about criminal justice reform, community advocacy, and supporting justice-impacted families and communities. Originally from Chicago, Illinois, her work is deeply rooted in her lived experiences navigating the emotional and social impacts of parental incarceration during childhood. Those experiences shaped her understanding of systemic inequities and inspired her commitment to advocacy, healing, and social change. 

As a John Lewis Scholar and Social Justice Fellow, Ivoryana focused her academic and community work on the school-to-prison pipeline, systemic barriers impacting marginalized communities, and the power of storytelling and narrative research to influence public perception and policy reform. She currently works with RestoreHER, serving underrepresented communities across Metro Atlanta and South Georgia through initiatives centered on healing, advocacy, and empowerment for individuals and families impacted by incarceration and systemic injustice. 

Through her work and advocacy, Ivoryana is committed to amplifying the voices of justice-impacted individuals and expanding access to equitable care, support, and opportunity. Drawing from both professional and personal experience, she speaks on the importance of providing compassionate, informed, and dignified care to justice-impacted patients and communities.